Reduce the stress - choose a REALTOR!

Real Estate 411 - Reduce the stress, choose a REALTOR! From analyzing all the information to staging your home for sale to negotiating the best terms for your contract, a REALTOR has the training and the expertise to remove the stress from your real estate transaction to make your buying or selling experience a positive one. Why choose a REALTOR? With all the information and connectivity at our fingertips, we are all more inclined to do things for ourselves these days. But think about this: when you have a health need and need an operation, you seek a professional – a doctor. When you have a legal issue, you seek an attorney. When you have a real estate need, the most effective way to handle all the details and bring you to a successful closing is to choose a professional - a REALTOR. Transaction details, negotiations, contract errors, stress and worry, short sales, foreclosure, relocating, market knowledge, staging your home, legal issues, online marketing, networking – these are just a few of the things that a REALTOR will take off your shoulders – but don’t take our word for it, see what our clients say about the REALTORS who recently helped them with their real estate transaction: “I cannot tell you how impressed we were with Becky Hopkins. She was great! We had a very difficult loan process and then a very difficult seller and we both agree that we're not sure this house would have ever closed without all of her hard work, attention to detail and persistence!” A.B. of Dallas, Texas “Our experience with the company and especially our Agent, Serena Mar was wonderful! We couldn't have asked for a better person to navigate us through the sometimes stressful process of selling and buying a house. Serena was so knowledgeable and reassuring every step of the way. She was so delightful as a person, showing good understanding of our needs as well as protecting those needs with true professionalism.” G.C. of Coppell, Texas “We had a situation (Foreclosure) that had to be handled as a SHORT SELL, but our agent Karen Smith always treated us with kindness and respect throughout this difficult time for our family and made the transition smooth, considering the situation. We would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone who needs a real estate agent.” G. D. of Duncanville, Texas “David Beer and his assistant, Amber, were amazing! I could always reach someone when I had a question or concern--even on holidays and weekends. This was our first time buying property, and it was really wonderful to work with such an outstanding office.” J.M. of Richardson, Texas “Liz Witte is a kind, caring person who takes her profession as much more than just a job. She went way above and beyond the call of duty many times in the almost six months that it took us to find a house in Denton. That included putting in an offer on three houses and having that offer accepted on two of those houses. I don't see how Liz could have done any better a job for us. I consider her a friend and I miss the daily interactions with her now that we have bought a house.” M.M. of Denton, Texas “Jamie is a one in a million agent. If only all agents were like her. Her passion, knowledge and experience is second to none. On top of that, she is a wonderful, warm, genuine, and caring person who is Weatherford's best promoter and their best asset!” S.C. of Weatherford, Texas “Our agent Victor Malone was super fantastic. He took the time to explain key concepts and market lingo terms that I was unfamiliar with. Victor made purchasing my home effortless and very stress free. His wealth of knowledge about the different types of loans and insurances was extremely helpful and needed.” E.W. of Heartland, Texas “I found Judge Fite Company via the internet and called the general number. By fate, Roger answered the phone. I had a difficult short sale to make. Based on my experience with Real Estate Agents in the past, I asked Roger a few questions and I liked the answers. Hired him on the phone, drove from Austin to Dallas to meet, see house, sign papers... on Father's Day Sunday, 2010! He had 2 contracts in 2-3 weeks. He suffered through the difficult closing while we dealt with the old mortgage company and the new lender... He was great. Highly recommend.” L.C. of Dallas, Texas Let us help you with all the many facets of your next real estate transaction - we want to be your REALTOR for life! 101 Reasons to Choose a REALTOR - read it here. Contact your CENTURY 21 Judge Fite REALTOR today to help you with your next real estate transaction.

CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company 800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

5 BIG Trends in New Home Building

Technology, the new green initiative, convenience, comfort, and energy efficiency are shaping the new home market.

What’s new in the new home market? Here are 5 Significant Trends:

1. Lighting – Traditional incandescents may be a thing of the past.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 directed the Department of Energy to set performance standards for general-service incandescent light bulbs to perform 25 to 35% more efficiently than current incandescent bulbs by 2012-14. Although the Act does not dictate what technologies can be used to meet its requirements, lighting professionals predict that only halogen, CFL, LEDs or some other new technology will be able to meet the standards.

To ready us for the changes ahead, ENERGY STAR’s Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) requirements encourage the use of the new lighting technologies. In order to sport the ALP designation, 60% of the fixtures used throughout the house and all ceiling fans must be ENERGY Star qualified.

New types of light bulbs are 75% more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs.

2. Life Simplifying Solutions

In this day and age, we crave anything that simplifies our life (provided we can quickly learn how to operate it). Our job is to know that whatever our buyer’s desire to automate or remote control, there is quite likely some technology out there that will allow them to accomplish their goal. Having a reliable and customer-friendly home electronics professional on your team of subcontractors is important in today’s rapidly changing world.

Z-Wave equipped door locks can now be remotely and wirelessly controlled.

3. “Home Synthetic Home”

Manmade products that emulate wood, stone, slate, clay tile, natural stucco and other materials are primarily to thank for making it possible to have a Cape Cod in California, a Tuscan in Texas or a Pueblo in Pennsylvania. During the past decade, “Home Sweet Home” has quickly turned into “Home Synthetic Home”.

DaVinci Roofscapes products are fire-retardant and able to weather tough conditions from all climates throughout the year. They are made of 100% virgin resin and are 100% recyclable.

4. The Modern Movement

One way to gage what’s hot in home design is to look at the products being introduced by the lighting and hardware industries. A few years ago, when rustic designs were all the rage, everything was all about oil-rubbed bronze. Today, sleek, modern, minimalistic designs in chrome finishes complement the move toward contemporary design. Photo courtesy of Lee Lighting.

5. Cutting-edge Energy Efficiency

We’ve come far in recent years when it comes to advancements in energy efficiency, and we’ll go even further in 2010 and beyond. In particular, technology is under development to deliver solar power at prices competitive with coal-fired electricity.

The 2010 New American Home, built in Las Vegas for the International Builder’s Show, features a proprietary gas-powered heating and cooling system with a SEER rating of 18 combined with other energy-efficient features such as low-E windows, advanced insulation, vertical and horizontal solar overhangs and window louvers.

Contact your CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Agent to help you with your real estate needs.

CENTURY21JudgeFite.com - 800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

6 real estate marketing trends that work!

6 Real Estate Marketing Trends that WORK!

In an overly saturated "marketing" business climate, how do you cut through the clutter and get your property in front of the buyer? There are many choices available to market real estate today, so many in fact it can be confusing. We have put together a list of six marketing trends that we have seen be successful in getting more exposure to your property. Although there are tried and true methods that have worked for years, today's marketing climate demands that we stay up with where and how people get their information. The six trends we will look at are: Mobile technology Web marketing Email marketing Social media marketing Flyers in front of house Just listed postcards Number one on our list is MOBILE TECHNOLOGY. Since over 75% of America is receiving information on some type of mobile device, this is our first pick in getting information out to the consumer about your property. For buyer's, it makes it easy to find a home that fits your needs in the location your desire. From Century 21 to Realtor.com to many hundreds of other mobile applications, there are apps tailored to the consumers needs, phone technology, and technology level. A consumer can choose the app that fits their mobile phone brand and technology platform, and that has all the bells and whistles they want to help them in their home search. For example, the Century 21 mobile app for the iPhone is a user friendly and simple application. Just open the app and the GPS will find your location and bring up a list of homes in that area. Or, you can be more specific and choose a city or zip, set your pricing and other criteria, and up pops the properties that fit your search - either in list form or on a map. Other real estate mobile apps to check out are Realtor.com, Trulia.com, and Zillow.com. Many companies are now adding applications that you can use on other Smart Phones other than just the iPhone. Why is mobile technology important and how does it work? Mobile technology simply "feeds" information from the Web to your Smartphone in various programs or applications (apps). For the consumer on the go armed with a smart phone that has a real estate app, it's as easy as pulling up in front of the home you like and with a few clicks on the phone look at photos of the interior and view the price and other important details. If you want to set an appointment to view the home, just click on a button and you can instantly be connected to the agent's phone number, or contact them via email or text. The advantage to the buyer: Immediate access to information The advantage to the seller: Information to the buyer 24/7 Number two on our list is WEB MARKETING. We all know where we go these days for information and help - and looking for a house is no exception. We go online to our favorite websites, or we go to Google or another search engine. Recent estimates say that over 84% of people looking for a home start their search online. So, your property MUST be viewable on the World Wide Web (www) if you want to reach the multitude of homebuyers! Real Estate search engines like Realtor.com and Trulia.com provide INSTANT information to the consumer, helping them make a more informed decision. In today's web marketing you also have what we call "syndication" which means the real estate search engines send out their information to other thrird party websites, increasing exposure and views of the properties. What used to be a simple weekly ad in a newspaper with a limited readership is now a real estate ad that provides information to potential millions of interested viewers 24/7! School, community, and neighborhood specifics - and much more are also included on a listing that is marketed correctly on the Web. Mix that with a REALTOR that understands the market and can act as a guide and a negotiator along the way, and you have a WIN WIN for all parties! The advantage to the buyer: Immediate access to information The advantage to the seller: Greater exposure to more people Number three is EMAIL MARKETING. If you are like 98% of the country, you are using email as a means of communication. Email marketing, just like Web marketing, broadens the potential exposure of your property. A REALTOR with an extensive network of local real estate professionals and sphere of influence (SOI) can reach potentially thousands of interested parties with a simple email "blast" announcing their new listing. It is no secret that email is a preferred method of marketing in today's world. And now with mobile technology bringing our emails to our phones, we can view these anytime, anywhere! The advantage to the buyer: Information delivered from a trusted source even BEFORE it is available anywhere else The advantage to the seller: Greater exposure to more people Number four is SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING. Facebook.com has over 500 millions users and other popular networks like Twitter.com and YouTube.com have hundreds of millions of active participants as well. Through social media, people can "connect" to savvy real estate professionals they trust and like and likewise Realtors can find qualified buyers using their social media networks. The Realtor that employs social media in their real estate marketing can expose your property to potentially thousands of interested prospects. One friend tells another that tells another and before long your property lands in the right buyer's account. It broadens the possiblities, and that's just good marketing! YouTube.com is the #2 search engine in the world next to Google.com. More and more savvy marketers are turning to YouTube to feature videos of properties that give a personal and up-close, realistic view of the house. When the time comes for you to list your home, be sure you ask your Realtor to shoot a video of the home - and if you're game, put on your camera face and join in the fun of making the video. Who knows, your video might go "viral" and get a million views! The advantage to the buyer: An on-demand review of a property from the comfort of their home The advantage to the seller: Greater exposure to more people Going back to tried and true basics, number five is FLYERS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. As we can see, marketing that works is marketing that gives INFORMATION on demand, when the consumer wants it. Instead of dialing a number, viewing the info on a smartphone, or emailing the agent for information, when driving around looking for homes (which is a favorite past time for many prospective homebuyers), information available at the property is a no-brainer. A box or tube with flyers that give basic facts about the house like price, number of bedrooms, and a photo of the kitchen, simply works. The advantage to the buyer: Instant gratification by providing key facts about the property when they are there looking The advantage to the seller: Providing key facts that qualifiy your property to interested prospects The last real estate marketing trend on our list is another method that has been used for years and is still successful even in this digital age. Number six is JUST LISTED POSTCARDS that announce to your neighborhood or area that your house is for sale. (Statistics show that most people moved only 12 miles away from their previous home.) When a Realtor expands that distribution to their sphere of influence (SOI), the message reaches even more real state professionals and interested parties who might be looking for what your home offers. The advantage to the buyer: They receive information on a home that is available in their selected neighborhood or area The advantage to the seller: Exposing your property to potential buyers in your direct area So that completes our list of SIX REAL ESTATE MARKETING TRENDS that are proven to provide better exposure of your property when the homebuyer wants it. Contact your CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Realtor today to find out how they plan to market your property to get the best price in the shortest amount of time! CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company 800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

ATTENTION AGENTS: FREE MCE Classes to cover new changes in HUD

HUD has changed procedures! Get 2 hours of MCE FREE!
Space is limited, email today to reserve your seat!

Date	Time	Location	# Seats	Reservation Link/email
Tuesday 11/02	1:30-3:30	Richardson - MetroTex Assn of REALTORS - 1701 N. Collins Blvd. #1400, Richardson 75080	30	SOLD OUT
Tuesday 11/09	1:30-3:30	Garland - Lake Cities Assn of REALTORS 911 Main St. Garland 75040	40	HUDlc1109
Tuesday 11/16	1:30-3:30	Duncanville - MetroTex Assn of REALTORS 407 N. Cedar Ridge #110, Duncanviile 75116	30	HUDdv1116
Tuesday 11/30	1:30-3:30	Dallas MetroTex Association of REALTORS 8201 N. Stemmons, Dallas 75247	120	HUDdal1012
Tuesday 12/07	1:30-3:30	Arlington Board of REALTORS 3916 West I-20, Ste 160, Arlington 76017	100	HUDarl1026

	Sponsored by:
Pemco, Ltd.	CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company	Lake Cities Association of REALTORS
Matt Martin Real Estate Management	Arlington Board of REALTORS	MetroTex Association of REALTORS

5 Tips for Successful Real Estate Investing

In today’s real estate market good deals are abundant for those ready to invest.

In fact, today a buyer can buy real estate and have a better cash flow than in years past. Two years ago an investor would be happy with buying an investment property that could cash flow $200.00 a month over the mortgage payment. That was figured on a 20-year mortgage including taxes and insurance. Today you can buy rentals that will cash flow up to $400.00-$500.00 or more per month.

TODAY’S OPORTUNITY IS BETTER THAN EVER.

Plan your future with rental houses in it. Buying investment property today comes with low interest rates and lower taxes due to the lower sales prices - resulting in lower payments than just two years ago. Rent prices are stable and we continue to see a growth in the rental market due to our economic times.

Once you buy an investment property, follow the model of successful investors and hire a professional management company to handle the day to day minutia. Spend your time locating those real buys and let a property management company do the management.

Be sure to look at homes that need work. Mortgage companies are not generally interested in spending more funds repairing them, resulting in you getting a lower price. All sounds real simple, right? It doesn’t have to be complicated, following a few simple steps will help you get started. The following tips will keep you on track as you grow into a real estate mogul with successful investing!

5 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE INVESTING

1. Make a plan – Determine how many houses you want to purchase per quarter, per year, and know how much cash-flow you want each property to produce for you over and above mortgage, insurance and expenses. Other items to plan for are:

a. What areas do you want to target? Look for properties that meet your criteria in the areas that you choose.
b. Look for a win/win in every purchase; it needs to work for you, the bank and the owner.
c. Don’t get emotional, learn to negotiate – this is a business purchase.
d. Remember that ugly ducklings can be made beautiful. Look for properties you can fix up to increase the value of the neighborhood – which in turn increases your investment.

2. Know your objectives - Write out your objectives for investing. Do you want to

a. build future wealth on investments that will cash-flow itself while building a retirement income on a 20-year note,
b. build short-term wealth that provides a monthly income from the cash-flow on a 30-year note,
c. or, get immediate cash by buying low and flipping (fixing up and selling for a profit)?

3. Set your Parameters – Determine the parameters in advance, i.e. what type of house will you buy? What type of lease will you take? What can you afford to buy?

a. Go for the lower maintenance, more popular styled home for your area: i.e. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage, central heat and air, with brick exterior. Remember, the better quality home the better quality tenant/lease you will be able to secure. Stay away from homes that require continuous maintenance and upkeep (i.e. homes with wood siding).
b. Go with a minimum 2-year lease. A tenant who signs a 2-year lease will most likely sign for another 2 years, and another 2 years – you are already 6 years, into paying off your investment!
c. Know how much money you can invest in a property without breaking YOUR bank! Look for REO’s and houses that have been on the market for a very long time (180 days +).

4. Get your $$$$$ in order – Of course you will have to get your credit in order and have a good relationship with your lender. Here are a few “secrets” from the experts to continue your success:

a. Have a 6 month “emergency” fund put back to protect you and your investments.
b. Save money to take care of your future. No one else can do this for you.
c. Pay attention to your business, your assets, what you are spending and what you are saving.
d. Learn to GIVE. It will come back to you.

5. Use a property management company – One of the biggest mistakes and “time guzzlers” is in trying to manage your investment properties yourself. Experts advise you NOT to manage your properties yourself...”don’t worry about the $45 and $50 items that need to be fixed at your property, instead focus on the $40,000 equities that are out there!” A property management company will take care of these things for you, freeing your time and resources to develop your investment portfolio:

a. advertising your vacant property
b. thoroughly screening a prospective tenant
c. performing move-in, move-out and periodic inspections
d. expediting emergency repairs
e. handling regular maintenance and upkeep of your property
f. overseeing any legal or collection issues

Real estate investing is a proven way to build wealth, and anyone can start! Use these simple tips to get started then contact a trusted real estate professional to help you with your first purchase.

Happy investing!

To find a real estate professional, contact CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company, a locally owned DFW real estate brokerage with over 70 years of real estate, mortgage and insurance experience. Call 800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

Find out how to make your property management worries disappear. Contact CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Management today! Call 972-780-5380 or email propertymanagement@judgefite.com.